Lounge Archives

Musician Bruno Mars and design studio Yabu Pushelberg have teamed up to create the interiors of a cocktail lounge and live music venue at the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas.

Named The Pinky Ring, the 5,000-square-foot (465-square-metre) lounge is accessible directly from the casino floor, but designed as an entirely separate experience away from the bright lights, bustle and noise.

Bar at The Pinky Ring surrounded by golden drapes — The stone bar at The Pinky Ring is surrounded by golden drapes that are reflected in the mirrored ceiling

Grammy Award-winning artist Mars collaborated with Canadian studio Yabu Pushelberg to craft an elevated and luxurious space within the Bellagio Resort and Casino.

The bar serves a curated collection of cocktails and hosts live entertainment by top musicians and DJs – though no phones are allowed inside.

View from VIP area at The Pinky Ring — A huge crystal chandelier hangs in the centre of the lounge and is visible from all corners

The entry sequence begins with a dimly lit mirrored passageway, where Mars’ collection of Grammy trophies is displayed.

“Inspired by contemporary museum design, the corridor was designed as a soothing and discreet exhibition space where guests can cleanse their visual palette from the outside world and begin to submerge into The Pinky Ring,” said the design team.

VIP area lined with faceted mirrored panels — A VIP area is lined with faceted mirrored panels that create infinite reflections

Guests arrive at the main bar and lounge in front of a sunken conversation pit, wrapped with a wavy banquette and furnished with soft armchairs gathered around a series of small tables.

The carpet, the leather and the velvet chair upholstery are shades of green – colours also found in the richly veined stone tabletops.

Seating area in a niche featuring dark wood-veneer panels — Other niches with additional seating feature dark wood-veneer panels

A giant halo-like chandelier with tiers of glowing crystal hangs from the ceiling above, providing a central focal point that can be seen from every corner.

At the rear of the space is a gently curved, dramatically patterned stone bar, topped with a row of metallic Flowerpot lamps by Verner Panton.

Conversation pit with carpet, chairs and banquettes in various shades of green — In the central conversation pit, various shades of green were chosen for the carpet, chairs and banquettes

The back bar is housed within an elongated pill-shaped, mirrored recess, which displays a wide range of liquor bottles and is ringed with stepped cove lights.

Golden drapes run floor to ceiling across the back wall and are reflected in more mirrors on the ceiling.

Seats and banquette surrounding a table with a richly veined stone top — The green hues of the seating are echoed in the richly veined stone tabletops

Off the main lounge are various niches and VIP areas that offer additional seating, some lined with dark wood-veneer panels.

“See or be seen, each area is composed of its own suave and purpose that echoes into the next,” said the team.

One organically shaped space is lined with faceted, smokey mirrored panels that create infinite reflections, and features a banquette that wraps around a large table fitted with a giant ice bucket for chilling drinks.

An important factor in the design was the lighting, which comprises under-seat and ceiling coves, along with wall lights with five globe-shaped diffusers attached to vertical brass rods.

Patterned crushed velvet and leather banquette — Patterned crushed velvet covers the curved banquette back, while the seat is wrapped in leather

“In the pursuit of perpetual allure, where lighting not only transforms spaces, but perceptions, The Pinky Ring unveils a strategic lighting innovation, schemed to make people look and feel their best,” the team said.

“Through a strategic interplay of low-level, contrast, and accent lighting, The Pinky Ring lighting design unveils the unseen.”

Mars joins a long line of famous musicians to open entertainment venues. Among others is singer Justin Timberlake, who put his name behind an AvroKO-designed Nashville dining and drinking destination in 2021.

Bathroom with a large circular mirror and walls lined in pink-red stone tiles — Pink-red stone tiles across the bathroom walls nod to the lounge’s name

Yabu Pushelberg was founded by George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg in 1980, and the studio has designed some of the most recognisable hospitality interiors over the past four decades.

Shortlisted for Dezeen Awards 2021 design studio of the year and judges for the program in 2023, Yabu Pushelberg’s recent projects include the Moxy and AC Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles – of several they’ve completed for the Moxy brand – and The Londoner hotel on Leicester Square in the UK capital.

The photography is by Sean Davidson.

Reference

ODDO architects have designed a contemporary home in Hanoi, Vietnam, that’s surrounded by taller buildings and includes rooftop courtyards.

Due to rapid urbanization and the lack of public spaces, the architects designed a home that includes outdoor spaces.

A contemporary home with rooftop courtyards surrounded by brick.

The lower level of the home has a white exterior, while the upper level consists of multiple brick volumes, some with overhanging plants, adding a greenery element to the space.

The roof area is covered by open gardens where the family may grow their own vegetable and fruits.

The rooftops also include space for relaxing in the busy city.

Outdoor lighting included in the design of the rooftops enables the space to be used at night. It also adds light to the neighborhood as it can pass through the walls and openings.